Device for gripping, lifting, and handling an annular group of articles such as electrical coils



July 19, 1949. J. B. LEECE 2,476,745

DEVICE FOR GRIPPING, LIFTING, AND HANDLING AN ANNULAR GROUP OF ARTICLESSUCH AS ELECTRICAL 001115 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1946INVENTOR. J/l/v 5 Assca J. B. LEECE July 19, 1949.

2,476,745 DEVICE FOR GRIPPING, LIFTING, AND HANDLING AN ANNULAR GROUP OFARTICLES SUCH AS ELECTRICAL COILS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1946XMQW Illlllll y 1949- J. B. LEECE ,476,745

DEVICE FOR GRIPPING, LIFTING; AND HANDLING AN ANNULAR GROUP OF ARTICLESSUCH AS ELECTRICAL COILS Filed Sept. 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IINVENTOR.

JbH/v 5. Lsscs BY M, ,EW 5

July 19, 1949. J, ECE 2,476,745

DEVICE FOR GRIPPING, L AND HANDLING AN ANNULAR GROUP 0 ARTICLES SUCH ASELECTRICAL COILS Filed Sept. 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ArraR/vs' Y5 .1i| H RINVENZ'OR.

ML K JH/V 5 [5 5 F1614 7 Patented july 19,

2,476,745 DEVIGE'FOR GRIPPING; LIF'TING, AND

DLING'AN-ANNULAR Gnom- SUGH ASvELECTRICAL' oorLs John B. Leece, Univ eriera n 9 3 Application: September-'11,

A TIGLES' V rsity Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Le v l efp mnan z, gcveland QhiQ,

1946;. Serial No. 696,092

This invention, re 1at es"tqxarticle handling devices and, as one ofiitsohjects} to provide an improved device of this kind by; which anumber of similar articles can be: picked up simultaneous-.7 y-and can.be maintained. 1n a desired groupedf 5 relation whilebeing {thus-temporarily held or a ies v i Another object-of the .present. inventionis to provide an: improved article handling; deviceof thisY character,whichjcan be usedtoiadvantage in handlingarious kinds. of articlesduringmanufacturing or-assen bling operations relating 1 thereto, such as -forhandlingor transporting electrical coils between different fabricatingop; erations p enformed thereon; or'for-usein insert: ing or assemblingagroup ofsuchcoils either into a temporaryholder or into-a permanent,holder such as an arn iature. member-or ;st ator of which. they a to eom a art A further object: of this invention is to provide an improvedarticle.handling-devicetof th e-character (mentioned, having-abody'providedw ith a I recess adaptedvto eivethe t1cles or port ons:means adapted! thereof andalso having gripping, to releasablyiretainthearticlessin such recess.---. v Still another objectof theinvention is to pro-a vlde an 1 article-handling .deyi ce 0f this type,in-'- which a portion of the body adjacent the Q ;ter': end oft'he-recess'is slotted and a-plura lity 10f clamping blades-aremovable,in he slots so as: to grip or. release-the -.a rti cle s-;

Yet another object is to provide-an improved? device of the :characterreferred to; in which-the: article-receiving recessgandthe group ofclamping. blades are annularly; disposed :and aicylindrica-lmembermovable-relative-to it'he body'actuates; all of theirbladessimultaneouslycfor .grippingzzor; releasing the articles.

The present inventionialsoprovidesimproved: apparatus of thecharacterlmetioned, sinwhichther- 40 grippingimeansfor ithearticleszconsists of or in--- cludes a resilient means adapted "tofri'ctionall-y'v grip the articles and retain thdsarne in the desired-arrangementandthe apparatus also inclu des an ejecting means forreleasing thearticles fronr fi such frictional grip;

Additionallmthis invention provides an article handling device adaptedforuse witha'fabricatin e machine embqdyinga'die mechanisr n and meansfor ejecting a group of articles=therefrom, and" wherein the' handlingdevice is'adapted to have" the grouped articles charg'ed' thereinto bythe ejector rneans of the fabricatingmachine and togrip thegrouped-articles-to enable thern to be transferred-t6 anothers'tation.

The invention can be further brieflymarized as -cpmlsting in I certainnovel ",coinbin'a' tions and arrangements of parts hereinafter Qdescribed. andparticularly setout-in the" claiins hereof. V i

In the" accompanying sheets of drawi Fig. l is ato'pplan v iew'pfanarticl'e handling i device constructed according to the present in?Ventiom V i .v 4 v Fig: 2 isa vertical sectional view thereof takengripping bladesin their-released position;

Fig.;3 is a vertical sectional viewsimilar to- Fig. 2 but showing; theblades. actuated to their articlegrippingposition; M

Fig. 4 isapartialbottom plan-view of the de vice taken-.as-indic,tedbyline-q -o of Fig.3 and with somept thg articlesshownin cross-section.

Fig). 5. is a partial loottoni plane view similar to Fig-4 buton-la-larg .ers cale;-.

Fig.-q6 is a partia verticalsectional elevationtaken through thecdeyiceat ;;a point between adjacent -:.sl ots rasindicated by" line 6- ,6 ofFig; 5;,

Fig. 7 is a front "elevation showing one-of thearticle clamping bladesin detached relation;

was isa lanwieW o inm t Fig. 9 is a yertical: section, showing the inproved handling device being-used in conjunction with a fabricatingmachine;

10 is a partia1-=verticalsectionalview taken throughthe fabricatingmachine and showing the.die"me0hanism tlj1ereof including a third diering iwhi cheis adaptedlto be removed I and replaced byatheimprovedhandling device;

Figaliis a avertical section; moreor less dia- Y grammatic in 'f0rm,=shoWi;n'g-=0ne'of a group-of electricalxcoi-lsaas an example of thearticles, adapted totbe handled by theimproved device;

Figs; mamas are partial-side and plan views;- respectively; of anannular-group of coils of the hairpin type shownxin- :F-ig'.;11;:

Fig. 114 is aiside "elevational view; also more or less .diagrammaticincharacter, showing a' siniil'ar gr'oupzof electrical coils of aspecifically'different form; and' Figi 15 is a plan view-ofthe=coils-showni in Fig; 14:." V

Before proceedingwithithe detailed description of t'h'e'improved'article: handli'ng'idevice 1.0; it should be explained-that this devicecan vbe 'usedfor: handling various difierent specific forms" of articlesand, as mentioned above", can 'be'used to advantage in handling ortransferring electrical coils dli'rin g the-fabrication tr shapingthereofand'also for the puipo'se of assembling sucli coils- .on'"-line-2 2 of- Fig. 1 andshotiing the jartiicl fe 3 into a machine part II (seeFig. 2) such as a stator, armature member or the like, of which thecoils are to become a part and which has annularly spaced axial slotsIla into which the coils are inserted by the handling device. Figs. 11to 13 inclusive and Figs. 14 and 15 show, by way of example, two groupsof electrical coils I2 and I3 of specifically difierent forms with whichthis handling device can be used. The coils of both groups are made ofcopper wire of a substantially rectangular cross-section, the coils l2having what can be conveniently termed a hairpin" shape and the coils l3being of substantially wishbone shape.

Each of the coils I2 comprises a pair of spaced substantially parallellegs I2a and I2?) and a 180 connectin bend I20 of relatively smallradius. The legs I20. and I22: and the connecting bend 120 all lie insubstantially the same plane as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The coils I2may be obtained by bending or shaping copper wire of substantiallyrectangular cross-section to the form shown in Fig. 11, or preferably,by subjecting a wire blank to a bending operation in suitable apparatusprovided for this purpose.

Each of the coils I3 comprises a pair of spaced legs I 3a and I3b whichextend in substantially parallel relation for a substantial portion oftheir length. At the upper end of the coil the legs 13a and 131) areconnected by a small radius 180 bend I30. At points adjacent theconnecting bend I30 each leg is provided with two bends I4 and I5.Because of the bends I l and I5 formed in the legs I3a and 13b theirparallel portions are spread apart and do not lie in the same plane asin the case of the legs I21; and I2b of the coils I2. The coils I3 canbe obtained by bending or shaping the wire to the form shown in Figs. 14and 15, but preferably, are obtained by subjecting the coils I2 to ashaping operation. Figs. 9 and show a fabricating or coil-shapingmachine l6 which is suitable for this purpose and with which the articlehandling device II) to be described hereinafter, is adapted to be usedin a novel manner.

The coil-shapin machine I6 need be only briefly described here inasmuchas this machine is more fully disclosed and is claimed in copendingapplication Serial No. 696,090 filed September 11, 1946. The machine I6comprises a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer die rings I1and I8 respectively, having cooperating radial slots in their adjacentperipheries. The die ring I l is carried by a rotatable or oscillatablesleeve 26. The slotted portions of the die rings overlie an annularspace 2I defined between the sleeves I9 and 26 and in which an annularejector 22 is adapted to be axially moved by the piston 23 of theejector cylinder 24. The machine I6 also includes a third die ring 25(see Fig. 10) which is carried by'a weighted body 26 and is slotted forcooperation with the slotted portions of the die rings I1 and I8. Thethird die ring 25 is rotatable with the body 26 relative to the sleeveI9 and is removable from the die rings I! and I8 by lifting of theweighted body.

The coils l2 are placed in the machine I6 in an annular series, asrepresented in Fig. 13, either by being manually inserted individuallyor by being inserted as a group by means of the handling device In. Thelegs I2a and [2b extend into the space 2| through the slots of the dierings IT and I8 and the bends I2c at the top of the coils engage in theslots of the third die ring 25. By rotating the outer die ring I8 thebends I4 and I5 are formed and the coils grams 4 I2 are converted intothe coils I3. At this time the coils I3 are also in an annular series asrepresented in Fig. 15. In the annular series of Fig. 13 the adjacent orradially aligned legs I2a and I2?) are portions of the same coil but inthe annular series of Fig. 15 the adjacent or radially aligned legs I3aand I3!) are portions of two different coils of the series.

After the shaping operation has taken place to convert the coils I2 intothe coils I3 as described above, the third die ring and weighted body 26are removed from the machine l6 and the handling device In issubstituted in its place as shown in Fig. 9. The ejector 22 is thenactuated to eject the coils I3 from the die rings I! and I8 and totransfer or project the coils into the handling device Ill.

To proceed with the detailed description of the handling device I0 itwill be seen from the drawing, and particularly from Fig. 3 thereof,that this device is provided with a body 30 having a recess 31 intowhich a group of articles such as the electrical coils I3 extend and arereleasably held. As has been indicated above. the improved device can beadapted for the handling of groups of various different articles but inthe present embodiment the recess M of the body 36 is an annular recessso as to adapt the device for the handling of annular groups of thecoils l3. To simplify the detailed description of the construction ofthe device and its intended operation, the invention is hereinafterdescribed with reference to the handling of a group of annularly spacedelectrical coils I2 or I3 although it should be understood that theinvention is not to be regarded as limited in this respect.

The body 36 is provided at its upper end with a suitable handle 32 bywhich the device can be lifted or carried. The handle 32 includes a stem32a disposed in coaxial relation to the body and whose lower end isconnected thereto by means of the reduced extension 33 and the nut 34threaded thereon. The handle also includes a knob 32b mounted on theupper end of the stem 32a. The article-receiving recess 3| extends intothe body 30 from the lower end or face 35 thereof and is disposed incoaxial relation to the handle.

The body 30 can be of a one-piece construction but preferably as hereshown is made up of two connected sections or body members 36a and 30b.The body member 3311 is a substantially cup-shaped member having atransverse top wall 36 and a depending annular wall 31. The body member30b is a substantially sleeve-shaped member which surrounds the member3912 and is connected thereto by a plurality of circumferentially spacedshouldered screws 38. By means of these shouldered screws the inner andouter body members 30a and 381) are maintained in spaced relation so asto define therebctween the annular recess 3I and an annular guideway 38communicating with the upper end of the recess and in which an annularejector member 46 is movable axially of the device.

The ejector member 40 has axial slots ll thereinwhich are spacedcircumferentially to correspond with the spacing of the screws 38 sothat these screws will extend through the slots. The slots are of alength to permit the desired extent of axial movement of the ejectormember and the screws also serve as stops which are adapted to beengaged by the ends of the slots. The ejector also includes a pair ofspaced arms 42 extending upwardly from theannular member 40 and atransverse eetuatiee bar #3 eermeetee: t the upper: eiidser these arm-eam having ari opening M through which the stem 3m 01 the meme extends.The stem ei tl i-hafidle thus forme a guiee for the up'eee em; 01 theheater: If desired a. cempression s-firifig 45 canbe eiispesed aroundthe stem 3m efi the handle between the u per em ofthebody memleee we aimthe aetiiatirie her: 43 and net-many a lifting: of retraetiiig: for centire jdti mans; K

The lew'er end eitheinriei ted-y member sue-is PiOV idedwith aliannular: (if radial-- Sliis 46 which eemmefiieate with: the'lewer end(it the recess 31- aiidsuch: that pairs 61 aejaee -tslets are separatedby iiitefi'leiiir ig or: rifis' fl} The lower end of the outer bdymember 305 ii; likewise provided a of" annei riy spaced slots 48 1eeirimuriicat'e with the reeess 3t and: are located e pes-ite toaiid'radially outward oi the slots 56 of 'tiie liody' member 30d; The pairsof adjacent slts fifi of'the body memher 395 are separated byiiiterveriiiig' teethor rite 49. Whenthe handling device 1- teing usedto iiickup a group of'articles; such asthe coils: f3; the-upper endsoftheeoils extend-into the recess 3| a-s siiowniii' Figs. 3 Mid 4 andthe pairs of eoil legs I '3zt arid [se -occupy positions thereeessopposite to" or the; radial" alignment with the ribs 41 and QQ-ef tliebody' memliers 3'06 and-30b.

For appiyin a clamping aetionto the coils l3 fer tem orarily retainingthe same-inflie recess 18; the hendling' dvie i's'iiibvided with a groutoi annularly spaced ci 'an'ipiiig hlades 50'" in the slots E8 of theouter body member- Sliband whichbletdesaremevable in such slots inadirectior'i transversely of therece'ss. shown in Figs. 7- anti-'8 theblades SIS-"have tapered wedge portions 51 thereon which are adipted tobe moved ii'i wardly between adjacent pairs of coil legs for exerting aclamping action on su'ciilegs. In addition to the function-f applyingaclam'p i ng action to the legs of thhc'oils; the blades Q} serve tohold the pairs of coil legs in the desired or: prearranged annularspacing so that thelbwer? endsof the coils which projectfrom thehandlir'ig device can be inserted into the corresr'n'ondirlg'lfy spacedslots of the stator or armature member HE into which they eretobeassembled";

The"- bl-ades- 5l'l are movably- S'ufaportd in=tlfiv body seprefierably'by he'ihgl i xmt'any mounted; the I body section atethereef; For this ur po'se theribs 49 of'this bod y section are proyieeealigned; a'f'cuaiteh7 extending g roov'es 52 w anam nular: bar of-wire531ifl0fl1tdfiifld= fierms aipitet for the: blades; The-blades 5-0 are:mettntedonthe annular pivot fermed by the wire 53 by being provided withnotches or 're ce's'se's 5 k whichtiiis; pivot er 'gages asshowninFfg's. 2 5,1111 3.

The swinging: (ifthe blades" 50' in-an i ruiw'au-ti direction to gripthe" paired legs of the coils l-3-,1-:.

or in an outwarddirectwfi-ttimeleaee the cot i s accompli'shedsimmtaneeuslyby' am ae'tilatirlg} member 'WhfGh i li' thisnstance isijiri the for ii'if er a cylindrical sleeve 55 d is'fos'e'd around andaxial-L3 slid able on the lo'ed rirmiier 33b; The axiallysiideblesleeve- 55 afid =the= radially? swin'g-- ifig blades 50- togetherconstitute a chuck for 1 efieetively grippirig 'the coi ls' l -3-aridretaihiiig the same in the handling device l0.- M

For theaccomplishment oi 'this.- function the blades 5e rareeproviddlwith :proiecti'n'g annularly the sreeveediaee transverse ghee akatiblewee meet the sleeve 1eerevieed with a beveree manne ifitel fiilsiiiilder' 5-1 wmen efieeees the meniieg fee stat of the elades we mateis moi/ea: many are warm are the may eieiebet roe:-

engeee= meet er the fieiifiee race 51 use blade edges eta ciiilises themeeeeteee e m'a'g outwardly the pix/deer teretreet the teeerea bladepdrtioiis the eons I3 and th-iis reiease" the eoiisso that the? ear; Ewithdrawn orejeetee fr'tiin Barium-1e dvies n r me Manatee/sleeve 5'5is'riiove'd aewm riphery 58 of the lowerendzdf tiiesie'eve'efigagfs gridslides aloiig the 1 side" fades- 5075 of the blades thfehy ctiisifigtlfiehlfid's to beswung" inwardly te ens; held in the: aee've-dese'ribee art-icle-g'rifh ere eeiistr uetee se that also have edge pottides side me e- 502: xteiid'iiig at an" angie will ttiise therewcoiri'eide sutstantialiy with the irielind tet tem wens we off the slotsie when the" warm ere swung to their outward er: retracted esrtie rrhown: in Fig. 2 tiiebiaees-are in rtriitdfidsit'idhthY areheld'iagairist inward swinging movement 531* rea son: of the; feet theelever portions 56 are their Beld betWfi the" iiitenal ah-r'iiilar faceer the lower end oi the ait'iitihg" sieeve 55 and the n'eii ed eottofirfaces- 48%;: of the slots} 48% Fr mtheabove deserietien of the blades suit' he geeoeeiz'ee ereee shaee is tfiat eaeh blaee hes: eimweea'iid eiewer trigt-T ais'o ereviued' oneach of the-b rackets- 62- ata oi hti'riwa rdlfi the-twee screws 66 A tensio sprmets i stretched-betweentheiiidif ae e arid statiofiai'y a'aeel iee pms-ts and tree as;

7-. brackets 62 of the body 30 through the openings 6| of the actuatingsleeve 55, as mentioned above,

' and when the levers are swung downwardly toward their position shownin Fig. 3, they act on the lower edges of the openings BI to push thesleeve in a downward direction so as to actuate the blades toward theircontracted or articlegripping position. When the levers 60 are swungupwardly toward their position shown in Fig. 2, they act on the upperedges of the openings BI to lift the sleeve 55 and cause the latter toretract or expand the blades 58 to their articlereleasing position. Theupper and lower edges of the openings GI are provided with recesses ornotches 69 which provide clearance spaces for the tension springs 68.

When the article handling device I is applied to an upstanding group ofthe annularly spaced coils I3 so that the upper ends of these coilsextend into the recess 3|, it is desirable that the upper ends of thecoils be gripped and held in their properly spaced relation so thatthere will be no tendency for the coils to rock or tilt out of theirannularly spaced relation. For this purpose the device is provided witha means for frictionally gripping and releasably holding the upper endsof the coils I3. In this instance this frictional gripping means isshown as comprising a pair of opposed coaxial bodies or rings I0 and Hof yieldable sponge rubber or the like disposed in corresponding annularrecesses I2 and I3 provided in the body members a and 39?) adjacent theupper end of the recess 3I. These rings can be retained in theirrecesses by adhesive or other suitable connecting means. When thehandling device It is applied to a group of annularly spaced coils I3,their upper ends are forced into the space between the resilient rings'II and 12 which causes the rings to be deflected or distorted at thepoints of engagement of the spaced coils therewith. This results in africtional holding force being applied by the rings to the upper ends ofthe coils which will maintain the coils in the desired annularly spacedrelation. If desired, these resilient frictional rings can be employedas the sole means for retaining the coils I3 in the device and in thatcase the clamping blades 56 and the actuating sleeve therefor would beomitted.

When the coils I2 have been converted into the coils I3 by the operationof the machine I6 as described above, they are ready to be transferredto the stator II by the handling device Ill. When the latter device hasbeen substituted on the machine I6 in place of the third die ring 25, asshown in Fig. 9 and briefly explained above, the. coils I3 extend partway into the recess 3| of the handling device and the actuation of theejector 22 pushes the coils upwardly so as to force the tops of thecoils between the resilient gripping rings II and 12. While the handlingdevice is still on the machine I6 the levers are swung downwardly tocause the blades 50 to grip the coil legs as explained above. Thehandling device Iii, with the coils retained therein, is then liftedfrom the machine I6 and applied to the stator II, as shown in Fig. 2,such that the legs of the coils extend part way into the slots Ila ofthe stator. The levers B0 are then swung upwardly to cause the blades 50to release the coils and the ejector member 40 is pushed downwardly toeject the group of coils from the handling device and push them into thestator II. The movement of the ejector member 40 as permitted by theslots M is sufiicient to re- ISO 8 lease the coils I3 from the resilientrings 'II' and I2. The handling device is then lifted from the statorleaving the coils in the latter.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will nowbe readily understood that this invention provides a relatively simplebut efiicient handling device by which a plurality of articles in adesired grouped relationcan be picked up and transported from onestation or piece of apparatus to another during fabricating operationsor for purposes of assembling the articles intoa machine member, statoror the like of which they are to become a part. Moreover, it will beseen that during the use of the improved article handling device, thearticles will be maintained in their desired relation in the group whilebeing thus temporarily held for handling or assembling purposes.

Although the improved article handling device of this invention has beenillustrated and described herein in more or less detail, it will beunderstood of course that the invention is not to be regarded as beingcorrespondingly limited in scope but includes all changes andmodifications coming within the scope of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pick-up device comprising a body having an annular recess adaptedto receive therein an annular group of articles in spaced relation, saidbody also having an annular row of slots extending along said recesswith the individual slots of the row extending in a directiontransversely of the recess, blades in said slots, a ring element forminga common hinge member for all of said blades and mounting the blades onsaid body for swinging movement into and out of the spaces betweenadjacent articles for clamping or releasing the articles, and actuatingmeans for causing substantially simultaneous swinging movement of theblades. 2. A pick -up device comprising a body having an annular recessadapted to receive therein an annular group of spaced articles, anannular series of blades pivotally connected with said body for swingingmovement into and out of the spaces between adjacent articles forclamping or releasing the articles, and actuating means for causingsubstantially simultaneous movement of the blades.

3. A pick-up device, comprising a body having an annular recess adaptedto receive therein an annular group of spaced articles, and an annularseries of blades pivoted on said body for swinging movement in adirection transversely of said recess into the spaces between adjacentarticles of said group, said blades being tapered and of a thickness toproduce a clamping action on said articles for retaining the same insaid recess.

, 4. A pick-up device comprising a liftable body having a recess in theunderside thereof adapted to receive portions of elongated articlesdisposed in spaced upright relation in a row, a plurality of bladespivotally connected with said body for swinging movement into and out ofthe spaces between adjacent articles for clamping or releasingthearticles, said blades being tapered and of a thickness to produce aclamping action on said articles when moved into said spaces, liftingmeans connected with said body, and means for causing substantiallysimultaneous movement of said blades.

5. A pick-up device comprising a liitable body having an annular recessin the underside thereof adapted to receive portions of elongatedarticles savages :.'disposed in spaced upri'ght relation in an annularvseries, an annular g-roup oiblades pivotal ly conz nected with saidbody ..=or swinging inovement into and .out of the spaces "betweenadjacent arin a direction transversely of the recess, :bl'a'des insaidtslots and having trigger-portions whichtpro- :rjec't from saidslots, :me'ans' pivotally mounting said blades on said body fiorswingingmovement :suchthat the bladesare adapted to be projected '20 into, orretracted from:.the' spaces between adjacent articles-for clamping orreleasing the articles,

andactuating means engag'eable withrsaid trigger :portions for causing.substantially simultaneous movement'of said blades; A 'Z. In adevice-ofthe-character describeda body .having an annular recess. therein intowhich atticles are-adapted to extend in a's'p'aced "row and alsohavingan annularirow'offspaced slots extending alon thezrecess'Vtlthithe individualslots of .;the row extending in a directiontransversely of the recess, an annular series of :blades in said slotsand havingt'rig'ger: portionsi'which project from said slots, meanspi'votally mounting said blades on said bodyiorrsw-ing'ing movement suchthat theblades are adapted to be projectedinto -or retracted .frgomathespaces between adjacent articles for, clamping orreleasingthe articles,and .a common actuating mea'nsxfor all of the blades and beingengageable with'said trigger portions. 8. In a device :of the-characterdescribed, a body havin an annular recesstherein .into which articlesvare adapted to :extend in a spaced row and also having :an annular rowof spaced slots extending a-longlsaid recess with the-individual slotsof the row extending in'a direction transversely of the recess, bladesintsaid slots, means pivotally mounting said bladeson said body forswinging movement "such 'that the blades are adapted to1beprojected-into or. retracted from the spaces between adj acentarticles for clamping or releasing the article's, said bladeshavingspaced trigger nortionsdisposed so that one set of trigger portionsproject from said slots when the:blades are-projected intoarticleiclampingrpositionand the other set of trigger portions projectfrom said slots when the blades are retracted, and a single actuatingmember 'reciprocably movable relative to said body and engageable withone orthe other of said sets of trigger portions for-causing theprojection or retraction of all of said blades substantiallysimultaneously.- v

-9. In a device of the character described, a body having an. annularrecess therein into which articles are-adapted toextend in-a spacedrowand also havingasleeve portion coextensive with the recess andcontaining an annular TIOW of spaced slots extending along the recesswiththe individual slots of the. rowextending ina dirfec'tiontransversely of the? recess, anannular series of blades, meansmount-ingsaidx blades on said body for swinging movement in said slots ISUCILthat the blades are adapted to be projected into or ret acted from the"spacessbetween adjacent articles for clamping or releasing thearticles, and a 'substantially cylindrical blade actuating memberuecip-rocably movable relative to said body, said mern beran'd bladeshaving cooperating portions adapted to cause the blades tobe's'win'gin'gly projected in response tdmovein'ent of the member in onedirection and to beswingingly retracted in response to'movement-of themember in the opposite direction. 1 a

1 10. A device for use Tin simultaneously handling agroup of annularlyspaced articles and mean- -,w-hi-le' maintaining the articles in suchannularly sg-a' ced -re lation,"comprising'a body having anan- 'nularrecess adanted'fto receive portions of said =:-annularly spacedarticl'estherein and also having a sleeveportion "containing an annular row ofsvaced slots extending substantially concentricallyof said recess withthe individual slots extending in adirectionsubstantially radially ofsaid body andtran-sversely to said recess, an annular group ofbladesgmeans mounting said blades on isaidbody for swinging-movement insaid slots :such that the bladescare adapted to be swingingly projectedinto orretracted *from the spaces between adjacent articles for clampingor releasing the-articles, and a substantiallycylindrical memberreciprocably movabl'e on said body for causing substantiallysimultaneous projection or retraction of the blades.

11. A device foruse in simultaneously handling asgroup o-f anhularlyspaced articles and meanwhile maintaining thearticles in suchannularlyspaced relation, 'comprisinga body having an annularrecess'extendingthereinto'from one end and. adapted to ,recei'vecbortions ofi-saidannularly spa-ced'articles therein and also having a sleeve portioncoextensive with-said recess, an annular rowof spaced slots in-s'aidsleeve portion at said one end'of the body an-dextending substantiallyQ'I-JIICEHlZfi'CQMYOf-Said. recess with the individual slots extendingin a direction substantially radialrly of said body and transversely tosaid recess, an ra-nnular: group=of blades movable in said slots, pivctmeans mounting'Lsaid blades on said body and-permitting the blades to beswingingly proyjected intoor retracted from-the spaces between thearticles for clamping or releasing the articles, sa-idiblades beingtapered andof a thickness to produce a-clamping-act-ion onthe articleswhen projected into thespaces,therebetween, and a sleeve reciprocablymovable on said body for causing substantially simultaneous projectionor retraction of theblades;

12, A-device for use in simultaneously handling agroup of annular-1yspaced articles and meanwhile maintainin -the articles in such annularlyspaced relation, comprising a body having an annul-arr're-cessadapted-to receive portions of said annularly spacedarticles therein andalso having assleeve'portion ccntaining'an annular row of spacedslots-extending substantially concentrically'of-said recess with theindividual slots ex tending, in a direction substantially "radially 'ofsaid body and transversely to said recess, an annular group-of:blades-movable in said-slots and adapted to be projected'into orretracted from the spaces between "adjacent articles for clamping orreleasing the articles, a substantially cylindrical memberrecibi'o'cably 'movableon said body for causing substantially:simultaneous projection or retraction of theblades', and toggle. actionswinging lever means pivoted on said body and having operativeconnection with "said member for actuatirig the SaI'IieL Li -13-. Adevicefor lise in simultaneously handling 75 a group of anni ilarlyspaced articles and meanwhile maintaining the articles in such annularlyspaced relation, comprisin a body having an annular recess extendingthereinto from one end and adapted to receive portions of said annularlyspaced articles therein and also having a sleeve portion which isprovided at said one end of the body with an annular row of spaced slotsextending substantially concentrically of said recess with theindividual slots extending in a direction substantially radially of saidbody and transversely to said recess, opposed resilient rubber ringsmounted on said body so as to lie in opposed relation on opposite sidesof said recess at a point spaced inwardly of said body from said one endand adapted to grip portions of said articles received therebetween, anannular group of blades, pivot means mounting said blades on said bodyfor swinging movement in said slots such that said blades are adapted tobe projected into or retracted from the spaces between adjacent articlesfor clamping or releasing the articles, a substantially cylindricalmember reciprocably movable relative to said body for causingsubstantially simultaneous projection or retraction of the blades, andejector means movable relative to said body for ejecting the articlesfrom said recess.

14. A device for use in simultaneously handling a group of annularlyspaced elongated articles and meanwhile maintaining the articles in suchannularly spaced relation, comprising a body having an annular recessextending thereinto and adapted to receive portions of said annularlyspaced articles therein, said body also having an annular row of spacedslots extending substantially concentrically of said recess with theindividual slots extending in a direction substantially radially of saidbody and transversely to said recess, yieldable means mounted in saidbody adjacent the inner end of said annular recess and adapted tofrictionally grip portions of said articles, an annular group of bladesmovable in said slots and adapted to be projected into or retracted fromthe spaces between the articles for clamping or releasing the articles,a substantially cylindrical member reciprocably movable relative to saidbody for causing substantially simultaneous projection or retraction ofthe blades, and ejector means movable relative to said body and adaptedto disengage the articles from the grip of said yieldable means.

15. In combination, a fabricating machine embodying a die mechanismwhich is adapted to operate simultaneously on a plurality of articles inannularly grouped relation and an ejector for ejecting the groupedarticles from the die mechanism, and an article handling device adaptedto be applied to said fabricating machine and having a body providedwith an annular recess extending 'thereinto from one end and in whichthe grouped articles are adapted to be received and means operable togrip or release the articles while the latter are in said recess, saidmeans comprising an annular group of blades pivotally mounted on saidbody for swinging movement in a direction transversely of said recessand adapted to be moved into the recess so as to engage in the spacesbetween adjacent articles, the ejector of said fabricating machine beingoperable to eject the grouped articles from said die mechanism and tosimultaneously move the grouped articles into said recess.

16. In combination, a fabricating machine embodying a die mechanismwhich is adapted to operate on a group of annularly spaced articlessimultaneously and an ejector for ejecting the grouped articles from thedie mechanism, and

7 an article handling device adapted to be applied to said fabricatingmachine and having a body provided with an annular recess extendingthereinto from one end and in which the grouped articles are adapted tobe received and a plurality of tapered blades for clamping or releasingsaid grouped articles, said blades being pivotally mounted on said bodyfor swinging movement in a direction transversely of said recess andadapted to be moved into said recess so as to engage in the spacesbetween adjacent articles, the ejector of said fabricating machine beingoperable to eject the grouped articles from said die mechanism and. tosimultaneously move the grouped articles into said recess.

17. In combination, a fabricating machine embodying a die mechanismwhich is adapted to operate simultaneously on a plurality of articles inannularly grouped relation and an ejector for ejecting the roupedarticles from the die mechanism, and an article handling device adaptedto be applied to said fabricating machine and having a body providedwith a recess extending thereinto from one end and in which the groupedarticles are adapted to be received and means for gripping the groupedarticles for temporarily retaining the same in'said body so that thelatter can be removed with the articles therein from said fabricatingmachine, said means comprising an annular group of blades pivotallymounted on said body for swinging movement in a direction transverselyof said recess and adapted to be moved into the recess so as to engagein the spaces be tween adjacent articles, the ejector of saidfabricating machine being operable to eject the grouped articles fromsaid die mechanism and to simultaneously move the grouped articles intothe recess of said body and said handling device also having an ejectoroperable therein to subsequently eject the grouped articles therefrom.

18. In combination, a fabricating machine embodying an annular diemechanism which is adapted to operate on a group of annularly spacedarticles simultaneously and an ejector for ejecting the grouped articlesfrom said die mechanism, an article handlin device adapted to be appliedto said fabricating machine and having a body comprising coaxial innerand outer sleeve portions and provided with an annular recess whichextends axially into the body from one end thereof between said sleeveportions and in which the grouped articles are adapted to be received,one of said sleeve portions having a row of annularly spaced slotstherein which extend in a direction transversely of said recess, meansfor temporarily retaining the grouped articles in said body including anannular series of tapered blades pivotally mounted on said one sleeveportion and located in the slots thereof and being movable into thespaces between the grouped articles for gripping the same, the ejectorof said fabricating machine being operable to eject the grouped articlesfrom said die mechanism and to simultaneously move the grouped articlesinto the recess of said body and said handling device with the groupedarticles therein being liftable from said fabricating machine.

19. In combination, a fabricating machine embodying an annular diemechanism which is adapted to operate on a group of annularly spacedarticles simultaneously and an ejector for ejecting the grouped articlesfrom said die mechanism,

an article handling device adapted to be applied to said fabricatingmachine and having a body 13 comprising coaxial inner and outer sleeveportions and provided with an annular recess which extends axially intothe body from one end thereof between said sleeve portions and in whichthe grouped articles are adapted to be received, one of said sleeveportions having a row of annularly spaced slots therein which extend ina direction transversely of said recess, means for temporarily retainingthe grouped articles in said body including an annular series of taperedblades pivotally mounted on said one sleeve portion and located in theslots thereof and being movable into the spaces between the groupedarticles for gripping the same, and an ejector carried by said body andmovable relative thereto for ejecting the grouped articles from theannular recess of said body, the ejector of said fabricating machinebeing operable to eject the grouped articles from said die mechanism andto simultaneously move the grouped articles into the annular recess ofsaid body and said handling device with the grouped 14 articles thereinbeing liftable from said fabricating machine.

JOHN B. LEECE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

